Collapsible tube dispenser



Dec. 13, 1960 v. H. SHERMER 2,96 ,2 8

COLLAPSIBLE TUBE DISPENSER Filed July 3, 1958 INVENTOR. Vernon J'f. Sherman" ATTORNEYS COLLAPSIBLE TUBE DISPENSER Vernon H. Shermer, Rte. 1, Box 915, Klamatlr Falls, Oreg;

Filed- July 3, 1958, Ser. No. 746,495

2 Claims. (Cl. 222-101) This invention relates to a device for use in collapsing tubes such as tubes containing paste or other material therein.

The object of the invention is to provide a collapsible tube dispenser which is adapted to be operated by a hand motion so that tooth paste or other material in a collapsible tube can be readily dispensed as for example when such tooth paste is to be dispensed onto a toothbrush.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible tube dispenser which is adapted to be manually operated when the paste or other material is to be dispensed from a collapsible tube, and wherein after the tube is emptied, a new or fresh tube can be inserted therein, and wherein when pressure is released on the device, a closure is automatically moved into position to block off or close oil the end of the tube.

A further object of the invention is to provide a collapsible tube dispenser which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same.

Figure l is a side elevatlonal view illustrating the collapsible tube dispenser of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the collapsible tube dispenser.

Figure 3 is a plan vIew of the collapsible tube dispenser, with parts broken away and in section.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing the parts in a different position.

Figure 5 is an end elevational view of the device.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a perspective view illustrating the body member which includes the closure plate.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral. 10 indicates the collapsible tube dispenser of the present invention, and the dispenser 14) includes a support member which is indicated generally by the numeral 11. The support member 11 includes a pair of spaced apart side walls 12 and a curved bottom wall 13. The side walls 12 are provided with opposed slots which are each indicated by the numeral'14. Each slot 14 includes a longitudinally extending main section 15 and a transverse end section 16, Figure 2.

There is further provided a cylindrical spool or roller 17 which is mounted for movement between the side walls 12. The outer surface of the. spool 17 is roughened or knurled so as to facilitate the manual movement or handling thereof. Trunnions 18 extend from ends of the" 2,954,218 Patented Dec. 13, 1960 There is further provided a base 20 which is spaced above the bottom wall 13. The numeral 21 indicates a bar which has one end hingedly connected as at 22, and a coil spring 23 is arranged in engagement with the bar 21, Figure 2.

There is further provided a pivotally mounted head 24 which is provided with a threadedrecess25= that is adapted to threadedly receive the neck 26 of a tube 27. The tube 27 may contain any suitable material such as tooth paste therein. The tube 27 is arranged above the base 20 and positioned between the side walls 12.

The head 24 is further provided with an outlet opening 28 which communicates with the recess 25. The head 24 is plvotally or hingedly connected to the side walls 12 by means of a pivot connection 29;

The outer end portion of the head 24 is cutaway as at 30, and the numeral 31 indicates a closure plate which is slidably mounted in the cutaway portion 30, the closure plate 31 being mounted for movement into and out of opened and closed relation with respect to the outlet opening 28. The closure plate 31 forms a part of a body member which is indicated generally by the numeral 32, Figure 7. The body member 32 further includes a pair of spaced parallel arms 33, and depending from the arms 33 are first and second spaced parallel legs 34 and 35, and the leg 34 is longer than the leg 35. An enlarged circular foot' portion 36 is mounted on the lower end of the leg 34, and the foot 36 is adapted to be engaged by the outer end portion of the bar 21. The legs 34 and 35 are slidably supported in the head 24. The numeral 37 indicates a spring member which engages the leg 34, and the spring member 37 serves to normally urge the foot 36 downwardly so that the closure plate 31 will be normally maintained in locking or closing relation with respect to the outlet opening 28. However, when manual pressure is applied, the bar 21 can be moved upwardly to engage the foot 36 so that the leg 34 will move upwardly in the head 24 whereby the plate 31 will move up to permit material to be squeezed from the tube 27 by means of the spool 17 so that this material or paste can pass out through the outlet opening 23. Then, when manual pressure is released, the spring 37 will return the plate 31 to closed position, and the spring 23 will return the bar 21 to its lowered position. The bottom wall 13 may be made of flexible material so that when manual pressure is applied thereto, the bar 21 can be flexed upwardly to raise the plate 31 as previously described.

A means is provided for locking or maintaining the head 2 in down position, as for example as shown in Figure l, and this means comprises locking detents 38 on the head 24 which are mounted for movement into and out of engagement with recesses 39 on the side walls 12.

rom the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided a collapsible tube dispenser which is adapted to be conveniently used for dispensing various types of material such as tooth paste. However, it is to be understood that the present invention is not restricted to the dispensing of tooth paste since any suitable or desired type of material can be dispensed by means of the present invention.

In use, the head 24 is adapted to be pivoted upwardly from the position shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 to the position shown in Figure 4 as for example when the device is to be loaded with a fresh or new tube 27. The tube 27 may be a conventional collapsible tube which has the desired material such as tooth paste therein. Normally the head 24- is in the. lowered positionshown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 or Figure 5, and the detents 38 engage the recesses 39 so as to maintain the head 24 in its lowered position. However, when sufiicient pressure is applied to the head 24 the holding action between the detents 38 and recesses 39* can be overcome so that the head 24 can be pivoted to the position shown in Figure 4, and the provision of the pivot pin 29 permits the head 24 to accomplish this swinging or pivotal movement.

After putting the head 24 in the pivoted or raised position as shown in Figure 4, a tube 27 is adapted to readily have its neck 26 threaded into the recess 25, and then the head 24 with the tube 27 connected thereto is returned from the position shown in Figure 4 to the position shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 5 for example. The spool 17 is arranged so that its trunnions 18 engage the slots 14, and the spring members 19 serve to prevent the trunnions 18 from accidentally working loose from the slots. Then, to dispense the paste or other material, it is only necessary to manually roll or push the spool 17 between the side walls 12 so that the spool 17 will engage the adjacent end of the tube 27. At the same time, pressure is applied to the bar 21 through the medium of the flexible bottom wall 13 so that the outer end portion of the bar 21 will move into engagement with the foot 36 and this will cause the body member 32 to be raised or moved in the head 24 whereby the plate 31 will move out of the path of the opening 28. Thus, the movement of the spool 17 will squeeze the material from the tube 27 so that this material will flow out through the opening 28 onto any desired object such as a toothbrush or the like. When pressure is released on the bottom wall 13, the spring 23 will move the bar 21 away from the bushing 36 so that the plate 31 will close off the opening 28 so that contamination or deterioration of the contents of the tube 27 will be prevented.

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in different shapes or sizes.

The present invention thus provides a more efiicient and convenient way of using and emptying standard collapsible tubes such as tubes containing tooth paste. The device can be suitably decorated or made in different colors to harmonize with other toilet accessories.

When the device is being filled, the spool 17 is removed and then the cap is removed from the end of the tube and this cap can be discarded. With the head 24- in open position, the tube 27 is screwed into the head and then the head 24 is returned to lowered position until the members 38 lock in the recesses 39. The dispenser can be held in either hand, and the outlet end is arranged towards the users thumb and the fingers can contact the bar 21 or flexible bottom wall 13. Then, by clenching the hand, the bar 21 can be moved upward until the plate 31 opens and then at the same time a downward and forward pressure is applied to the spool 17 until the desired amount of material is dispensed and then when pressure is released, the device will automatically close.

The legs 34 and 35 of the body member 32 act as guides for the movable body member, and the spring 37 functions as an automatic closure spring.

It is to be understood that according to the present invention the bottom wall 13 may be made of flexible material or the bar 21 can directly engage with the hand or fingers when the device is being used. Furthermore, when the solid type is being used, certain of the parts may be made flexible so that there would then be no actual bar 21 or spring 23.

Minor changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

I claim:

1. In a dispenser, a support member including spaced apart side walls and a curved bottom wall, each of said side walls being provided with an L-shaped slot which includes a longitudinally extending main section and a transverse end section and the slots are in the inner surfaces of said side walls in opposed relation to each, a cylindrical spool mounted for movement between said side walls, trunnions projecting from the opposite ends of said spool for engagement with said slots, said support member further including a base which is spaced from said bottom wall, a manually operated spring pressed bar hingedly mounted on the bottom wall and arranged eontiguous to the upper surface of said bottom wall, a head pivotally connected to the front end portions of the side walls of said support member, said head being provided with a threaded recess for threadedly receiving the neck of a collapsible tube, there being an outlet opening in said head communicating with said recess, an outer end portion of said head being cutaway so that said outlet opening and said cutaway coincide, a body member including a plate slidably mounted in said cutaway portion, said plate being mounted for movement into and out of opened and closed relation with respect to said outlet opening, said body member further including a pair of spaced parallel arms, first and second spaced apart legs depending from said arms and said legs being slidably connected to said head, the end of said first leg terminating adjacent said bar at right angles thereto, and a foot on the lower end of said first leg for engagement by said bar whereby movement of said bar will move said body member and the plate thereon to open and close said outlet opening.

2. In a dispenser, a support member including spaced apart side walls and a curved bottom wall, each of said side walls being provided with an L-shaped slot which includes a longitudinally extending main section and a transverse end section and the slots are in the inner surfaces of said side walls in opposed relation to each, a cylindrical spool mounted for movement between said side walls, trunnions projecting from the opposite ends of said spool for engagement with said slots, said support member further including a base which is spaced from said bottom wall, a manually operated spring pressed bar hingedly mounted on the bottom wall and arranged contiguous to the upper surface of said bottom wall, a head pivotally connected to the front end portions of the side walls of said support member, said head being provided with a threaded recess for threadedly receiving the neck of a collapsible tube, there being an outlet opening in said head communicating with said recess, an outer end portion of said head being cutaway so that said outlet opening and said cutaway coincide, a body member including a plate slidably mounted in said cutaway portion, said plate being mounted for movement into and out of opened and closed relation with respect to said outlet opening, said body member further including a pair of spaced parallel arms, first and second spaced apart legs depending from said arms and said legs being slidably connected to said head, the end of said first leg terminating adjacent said bar at right angles thereto, a foot on the lower end of said first leg for engagement by said bar whereby movement of said bar will move said body member and the plate thereon to open and close said outlet opening, and interengaging locking detents and recesses on said head and side Walls.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,528,662 Miller Nov. 7, 1950 2,543,667 Palmer Feb. 7, 1951 2,658,646 Hinrichs Nov. 10, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 204,929 Great Britain Oct. 11, 1923 497,927 Germany June 28, 1928 m ift aiv 

